Mounting bracket fob instrument



C.A.BLAKESLEE MOUNTING BRACKET FOR INSTRUIENT cAsas Filed Doc. 8, 1943April 27, 1948.

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Patented Apr. 27, 1948 UNITED TA ES PATENT orF cE momrrmo naszgsfg oamsrnosrss'r I w Clinton A. Bhkealee, 311mb!!! Coma, aasignor to'lheeerporatlonof Application December 8. 1948, Serial No. 613,413

1 Claim. (CL 248-27) The invention relates to a mounting bracket adaptedmore especially to the mounting of an instrument case with respect to apanel for the same. The customary manner of securing an instrument caseto a panel either for front-ofpanel mounting or for flush mounting hasbeen. in the former instance, through the use of perforated lugs on thecase, which is usually a casting or a stamped or fabricated case. thelugs being bolted to holes provided in the panel. In the flusharrangement of mounting. a broad flange is provided at the front of thecase and has holes therein through which to bolt the case to the panelthrough corresponding holes drilled in the panel near the edge of the"cut-out or opening of the panel, the lugs then being omitted.Generally, the two types of mounting necessitate actual differences inthe case as cast or otherwise fabricated.

An attempt was made (see U. 8. Patent #l,859,- 8'72 granted May 24,1932, to T. R. Harrison) to obviate the requirement for different typesof fittings by providing a removable lug which may be located on thecase in any one of several manners adapted for three different types ofmounting. The arrangement, however, is suitable only for the so-called"wall mounting. and for the flush mounting of the case special anddifferent fittings are required. Thus, two distinct types of fittingsmust be furnished in many instances when shipping an instrument, as itis not known beforehand which type of mounting would be adopted when theinstrument is to be installed. Only one set of the fittings would thenbe used, and the other discarded; or, having been supplied originallywith a set for a particular mounting. should the customer subsequentlydesire to change to the other type oi mounting, he would requirediflerent ilttings.

An object of the present invention isto provide a novel mounting memberor bracket whereby to secure an instrument case to a panel alternativelyflush with the face thereof or upon the front of the panel to projectfrom the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mounting bracket whichis suitable for use with either a stamped or fabricated sheet metal caseor with a cast or otherwise constructed case.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a bracket memberwhereby the case may be displaced from the edge of the cut-out" oropening of the panel within which the case extends and whose edge isfrequently irregular or rough: also. to obviate the necessity fordrilling of bolt or like holes about the "cut-out which materiallyweaken the wall portion surrounding the mounted casing.

Another object of the invention is to providea-simple mounting memberwherein, when utilized for mounting the case upon a panel or wall, thearrangement is such as to distribute the stress between the periphery ofthe case and the panel or wall and to provide a displacement or spacebetween the hack of the case and said panel or wall to accommodate screwand bolt heads or other projections on the case, as well asirregularities on the panel surface.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a bracket which,when installed to mount an instrument case flush with a panel, cannottwist or turn.

A further object is found in the provision of a mounting bracket whichnot only supports, but reinforces, the case of an instrument to which itis applied.

The invention has for an object, also, to provide a mounting bracketwhich, when utilized to mount an instrument case substantially flushwith the panel, will remain invisible from the front of said panel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a strong,'simple, andrelatively inexpensive bracket member suitable for effecting the desiredmountings.

In carrying out the invention, the novel bracket is constructed in theform of a T-element with outer surfaces of its flanges flush with eachother or lying in the same plane, the intermediate portion of theT-element extending at right angles to these flanges and having a planesurface associated with an inner surface of one of the flanges parallelto the common plane of the outer surfaces, the plane surface of theintermediate portion being juxtaposed to said parallel inner surface andnormal thereto. The two flanges, one of which preferably is longer thanthe other, as well as the intermediate portion, are perforated toreceive respectively securing members whereby to mount an instrumentcase on a panel or wall. The construction is such that the outersurfaces of the flanges, which lie in a common plane, may contactalternatively the outer surface of the instrument case or the outer faceof a panel or wall for attachment of the bracket thereto. In the formerinstance, the intermediate portion retains a securing member which is inthe nature of a set screw designed to contact the inner face of thepanel and draw the inturned edge of a case flange into contact with theouter face of said panel to clamp 3 position substantially flush of t epanel. One of the into the panel opening for the said flanks of the caseand between the periphery of said case and the prevent turning ortwisting of installed. the same being atd periphery of the case throughin the shorter of the flanges. l'ior mounting th wall to projectoutwardly therefrom. both the intermediate portion and one of theflanges are attached to the periphery of the ease. whereby the corner ofthe same is embraced and reinforced, while the other one of the flangesis secm'ed to the panel.

The nature of the invention, however, will best be understood whendescribed in connection with the accompany! drawings. in which:

Figs. 1 and 2 are vertical sections of a panel,

with instrument case and bracket indicated in elevation, showingrespectively an instrument case mounted substantially flush with theouter face of a panel or wall-and projecting therefrom.

Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary longitudinal sections, on an enlargedscale, illustrating the manher of seeming the instrument case accordingto the showings indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. respectively.

I'ig. ii is a similar view illustrating a modiflcation in the flush typeof ease mounting by means of the novel bracket.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the novel mounting bracket, and Fig. 7is a vertical section thereof.

Referring to the drawings, ll designates a section of a panel or a wallmember upon which an instrument case II is designed to be mounted eitherflush with the front face I: of the panel. as indicated in Fig. 1' ofthe drawings. or to project outwardly from this face of the panel, asindicated in Fig. 2 of the drawinss. In accordance with the invention,this is effected by means of a novel form of mounting bracket, indicatedmore particularly in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings, the number ofbrackets utilised depending on'thesiseofthecase,fourordinarilyservingtheThe novel bracket is in the nature of a 1'- element having the flangesll and II with intermediate portion ll extending at right anglesthereto. The outer surfaces It and II of theflangesareflushorlieinacommonpiane: and one of'the flanges, as theflange II which also is preferably shorter than flange II, is providedwith a perforation or hole 20. Similarly, the flange ll is provided witha perforation II but in this instance the perforation is somewhatecaseonthefrontfaeeofthe' guests 4 mountinntheouterfaceofthepanel.'lhlsis more cleariyindicatedlnl'ilsdandbreewtively:andsuitablesecuringmeansaroprovidedtoretainthebrackettothecaseandpanehin accordance with the location ofsaid case relative to the panel. Thus, a combined nut and bushingilmaybeprovidsdinthecasewallattheforwardportionasbyst'sking,soidering,orbrasingthesamethereto.andthenutisthreadedto receive a cap bolt II passingthrough the perforation it of the flange II, Fig. 8. in thisembodimentoftheinvention.theflange ll isnotsec'ured to the case wall butextends outwardly through an opening I; of the panel beyond its outerface I! substantially to an upturned and rearwardly directed flange IIof the instrument. This not only reinforces the case wall but will avoidany twisting or shifting of the bracket particularly insecuringitsflangelltosaidwall. Itwillalso serve to displace the outer surface of the casewall from the edge of the opening or "cut-out" it of panel which may beirregular or rough, and any proiectiona from the case wall may beaccommodatcd.

The intermediate portion i1 projects outwardly then from the flangessubstantially parallel to the inner face 84 of the panel and. by meansof a set screw Cl fitting the threaded opening II. is caused to engagesaid face 88 and draw thereby the flange 13 into contact with outer faceI! to clamp the case to the panel with the said case substantially flushwith the outer face if of said panel.

Or, as indicated in Fig. 5, particularly when the case is of cast metalor is molded, it'may be so constructed that no threaded openings arerequired in its wall for retaining the bracket member thereto. Thus, thecase I is shown as provided with a series of pockets orrecesses ll,openattheouterendandarrangedintheouter a surface of the wall, saidrecesses extending from elongated and countersunk at the outer surfaceII, as at 22.

The inner surface 13 of the flange I! is substantially parallel to theouter surface II and at right angles to the juxtaposed surface ll of theintermediate portion ll of the bracket. This intermediate portion isalso provided with a perforation 2! which is threaded. A pair ofreinforcing integral webs II are located at the sides of theintermediate portion to connect the same 'with one of the flanges, inthe present instance the shorter flange il.

In adapting this bracket in the mounting of an instrument case in eitherof the positions indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the two flange surfaces Itand II will contact. in the flush mounting, the outer surface of thecasing. and in the projecting the inturned flange l2 inwardly asuiilcient distance toaccornmodate thebrackst flanges II and it whichseat with the inner end of the former flange abutting the back wall 0 ofthe recess..

when screw fl is then turned in the intermediate portion II to clamp theflange ll to panel II, the tendencyforthebrackettoherotatedlna clockwisesense will cause the flange portion It to be brought into forciblecnsuesnent with the inner edge of the opening 32 in the panel, while atthe same time sufllcient stress will be exerted aiainstwallnattheinnerendoftherecess ii to holdthe bracket flrmly in its location insaid recess without other means of attachment to the case. and alsothrough the clamping action onflange Q2 toflrmlylocatethecasewithrespectto the panel.

Whenitisdesiredtomountthecaseonthe panel to project outwardly therefrom,as indicated in Fig. 4-. the flange II and the intermediste portion IIare attached over the rear of the case, the portion H by means of afurther combined nut and bushing ll attached to the case and cooperatingcap bolt Ii, the latter preferably being "undersiae" so as not to engagethe threads within the opening 28: and the flange it by an additionalcombined nut and bushing 82 attached to the rear of the case and a screwII, the head of which fits the countersunk portion 22. The elongatedconformation of the countersunk opening II provides a certain tolerancein spacing between the part I! and the flat perpendicular surface of thecase I I, whereby is eliminated the need for precise dimensioningbetween the same. Flange ilissscureddirectlytothefrontfaceof the panelII by means of a bolt ll and nut is. In this instance, also. the wall ofthe case will be displaced by the interposition of the flanges from theouter face i! of panel ii to accommodate any irregularities orproiections thereon; and at the same time, the flange it and theintermediate portion i'l, angularly embracing the corner of the casing,will provide substantial support and reinforcement therefor.

The novel bracket member therefore serves for either type of mounting sothat it is necessary to furnish merely one type of bracket member whenshipplns an instrument. and no waste is involved in the event that achange in the manner or mounting is subsequently desired. The saidbracket is of simple construction. strong and relatively inexpensive tomanufacture. and is suitable for use with either the cast type of caseor the stamped or fabricated type of case. In the former, it will benecessary merely to drill and tap the case at the desired locations, orprovide recesses therein; and in the latter, it is preferred toreinforce the wall, for example, by means of the combined nut andbushing hereinbefore de- I claim:

The combination with a panel provided with an opening, and an instrumentcase adapted for mounting within said opening. said case havins a frontupturned flange: of a mounting bracketforsecm'ingthecasetothepanelintheopening thereof substantially flushwith its outer face. said bracket comprising a 'r-element withoppositely directed perfortted flanges and an intermediste ortion atright angles thereto and l 6 provided with a threaded perforation, theouter surfaces of said last-named flanges lying in a common plane andthe inner surface of one of the flanges in a plane parallel to saidcommon plane, the inner and outer surface of the one flange beingadapted to fit in the panel opening between the panel and the case andextend forwardly of the face of said panel to the flange of said case,the other flange of the bracket being adapted to be secured to the case.and a screw adjustable in the perforation of the intermediate portion ofthe T-element to engage the inner iace of the panel and draw the caseflange into contact with the said outer face of the panel when theT-element has been secured to said case.

CLINTON A. BLAKESLEE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

